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USS Barnett (APA-5)
Encyclopedia
USS Barnett (APA-5) was a McCawley-class
attack transport
that served with the US Navy during World War II
.
Barnett was launched ln 1928 as the passenger steamer Santa Maria by the Furness Shipbuilding Company of Haverton-on-Tees, England
; purchased by the Navy 11 August 1940; and commissioned 25 September 1940, Captain I. Pamperin in command.
-Vieques Islands area. In January 1941 she returned to Norfolk, Virginia
for an overhaul which was completed 3 April 1941. Between April and December 1941 she again participated in amphibious
and gunnery exercises with Marines. August was spent conducting landing exercises at New River, North Carolina. On 19 February 1942 Barnett sailed from New York City with convoy AT 12 escorted by USS New York (BB-34)
, USS Quincy (CA-39)
and USS Philadelphia (CL-41)
; and arrived in the British Isles on 2 March 1942. On 15 March 1942 Perelle sank following a collision with Barnett. On 9 April 1942 Barnett left the British Isles with convoy TA 12 escorted by New York and Philadelphia, and returned to New York City on 25 March 1942.
, Barnett transported 1,360 survivors from USS Lexington (CV-2)
from Nouméa
to San Diego. Among those survivors were Lexingtons executive officer, Commander Morton Seligman, Chicago Tribune war correspondent Stanley Johnston, and dive bomber pilot Robert Dixon, who sent the most remembered message of the Coral Sea battle: "Scratch one flattop." During the trip, Dixon observed Seligman sharing classified message traffic with Johnston including decrypted information about Japanese planning for the Battle of Midway
. Johnston's Chicago Tribune article following the battle included information potentially revealing Japanese naval codes were no longer secure. Admiral Ernest King
discovered the source of the security breach through Dixon's response to FBI investigators. Japanese cryptography
remained unchanged following the article, so Seligman's punishment was a permanent ban on promotion to avoid possible publicity about more formal proceedings. Seligman retired in 1944.
in Fiji
. The landing force then sailed from Koro on 31 July and commenced the Guadalcanal landing on 7 August. Barnett was damaged by a crashing Mitsubishi G4M
bomber during an air raid on 8 August. Barnett sailed for Nouméa
on 9 August carrying 860 survivors of ships sunk at the Battle of Savo Island
. After transporting the 2nd battalion, 8th Marines from Tonga to Guadalcanal in late October, Barnett spent the month of November 1942 shuttling troops and supplies between Tulagi and Guadalcanal. Barnett was anchored off Lunga Point offloading when accompanying USS Alchiba (AKA-6)
was torpedoed by midget submarine Ha-10
on 28 November 1942. Barnett carried 94 wounded Marines and 381 American survivors from destroyers sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
to Espiritu Santo and then transported 866 Northampton
survivors from the Battle of Tassafaronga
home to San Diego a few days before Christmas.
landing exercise at Cedar Point, Maryland on 12 April. Barnett sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on 10 May 1943 with convoy UGF 8A as flagship of the Third Transport Division commanded by Commodore Campbell Edgar, escorted by USS Savannah (CL-42)
and 12 destroyers, and arrived in Oran, Algeria, on 23 May 1943. On 5 July 1943 Barnett sailed with convoy NCF 1 carrying the 26th Regimental Combat Team to the Sicilian occupation
. Barnett arrived at Gela, Sicily, at 0025 10 July 1943 and began landing troops at 0245. During a bombing attack off the coast of Sicily on 11 July 1943, a bomb burst close aboard Barnetts port bow abreast of the forward hatch putting a hole in the hull and causing subsequent flooding. The ship was made to list to starboard to bring the hole above the water line. Seven men were killed and 35 injured; all were Army personnel. On the evening of 12 July Barnett steamed under her own power with convoy CNF 1 to Algiers
, Algeria
, for repairs, arriving 15 July.
landings on 9 September, and left Salerno on 10 September with convoy NSF 1 to return to Oran on 14 September. Barnett left Oran on 30 September with 1,011 signal, police, and ordnance specialists in convoy NSF 4 and arrived in Naples, Italy, on 6 October. After offloading, Barnett left Naples on 7 October with convoy SNF 4 and returned to Oran on 10 October. On 25 October Barnett again sailed from Oran with 1,247 men from the 1st Armored Division in convoy NSF 6 arriving in Naples on 28 October and leaving the same day with convoy SNF 6 to return to Oran on 1 November 1943. Barnett then transported 1,383 service force troops to Italy on 13 November and embarked Commonwealth troops to leave Oran with convoy MKF 26, escorted by HMS Glasgow (C21)
, and arrive in Liverpool, England, on 9 December 1943. Barnett left England on 18 December 1943 with convoy UC 8 and arrived in New York City on 2 January 1944.
. Barnett left France on 20 October and arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on 8 November 1944.
. Barnett arrived off Okinawa on 1 April and was damaged by a friendly fire incident on 6 April. Repairs required return to Seattle on 5 May 1944. Barnett transported 1,163 Army personnel from Seattle to Hawaii in June, and 1,308 troops from Hawaii to Leyte in July. Barnett then transported casualties from the Philippines back to California and was in San Diego when Japan surrendered. Barnett received seven battle stars for her World War II service.
on 30 April 1946, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register
on 21 May 1946.
McCawley class attack transport
The McCawley-class attack transport was a class of US Navy attack transport that saw service in World War II.Like all attack transports, the purpose of the McCawley class ships was to transport troops and their equipment to hostile shores in order to execute amphibious invasions...
attack transport
Attack transport
Attack Transport is a United States Navy ship classification.-History:In the early 1940s, as the United States Navy expanded in response to the threat of involvement in World War II, a number of civilian passenger ships and some freighters were acquired, converted to transports and given hull...
that served with the US Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Barnett was launched ln 1928 as the passenger steamer Santa Maria by the Furness Shipbuilding Company of Haverton-on-Tees, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; purchased by the Navy 11 August 1940; and commissioned 25 September 1940, Captain I. Pamperin in command.
World War II
From 25 September 1940 until the end of the year. Barnett was engaged in training Marines in the CulebraCulebra, Puerto Rico
Isla Culebra is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico originally called Isla Pasaje and Isla de San Ildefonso. It is located approximately east of the Puerto Rican mainland, west of St. Thomas and north of Vieques. Culebra is spread over 5 wards and Culebra Pueblo...
-Vieques Islands area. In January 1941 she returned to Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
for an overhaul which was completed 3 April 1941. Between April and December 1941 she again participated in amphibious
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
and gunnery exercises with Marines. August was spent conducting landing exercises at New River, North Carolina. On 19 February 1942 Barnett sailed from New York City with convoy AT 12 escorted by USS New York (BB-34)
USS New York (BB-34)
USS New York was a United States Navy battleship, the lead ship of her class of two . She was the fifth ship to carry her name....
, USS Quincy (CA-39)
USS Quincy (CA-39)
USS Quincy was a United States Navy New Orleans-class heavy cruiser sunk at the Battle of Savo Island in 1942.Quincy, the second ship to carry the name, was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts on 15 November 1933, launched on 19 June 1935, sponsored by Mrs. Henry S...
and USS Philadelphia (CL-41)
USS Philadelphia (CL-41)
USS Philadelphia , a Brooklyn class light cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the fifth ship named for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the 1950s, she was commissioned into the Brazilian Navy as Almirante Barroso....
; and arrived in the British Isles on 2 March 1942. On 15 March 1942 Perelle sank following a collision with Barnett. On 9 April 1942 Barnett left the British Isles with convoy TA 12 escorted by New York and Philadelphia, and returned to New York City on 25 March 1942.
Battles of Coral Sea and Midway
Barnett moved troops to defensive positions in the southwest Pacific with convoy BT 202 leaving New York City on 9 April 1942, transiting the Panama Canal on 18 April 1942, and arriving in Wellington, New Zealand, on 22 May 1942. Following the Battle of the Coral SeaBattle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
, Barnett transported 1,360 survivors from USS Lexington (CV-2)
USS Lexington (CV-2)
USS Lexington , nicknamed the "Gray Lady" or "Lady Lex," was an early aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. She was the lead ship of the , though her sister ship was commissioned a month earlier...
from Nouméa
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
to San Diego. Among those survivors were Lexingtons executive officer, Commander Morton Seligman, Chicago Tribune war correspondent Stanley Johnston, and dive bomber pilot Robert Dixon, who sent the most remembered message of the Coral Sea battle: "Scratch one flattop." During the trip, Dixon observed Seligman sharing classified message traffic with Johnston including decrypted information about Japanese planning for the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
. Johnston's Chicago Tribune article following the battle included information potentially revealing Japanese naval codes were no longer secure. Admiral Ernest King
Ernest King
Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King was Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations during World War II. As COMINCH, he directed the United States Navy's operations, planning, and administration and was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the U.S...
discovered the source of the security breach through Dixon's response to FBI investigators. Japanese cryptography
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
remained unchanged following the article, so Seligman's punishment was a permanent ban on promotion to avoid possible publicity about more formal proceedings. Seligman retired in 1944.
Guadalcanal
After delivering Lexington survivors to San Diego, Barnett sailed to San Francisco to embark men of the 1st Marines for transport to the South Pacific. Barnett sailed from San Francisco with convoy PW 2095 on 23 June 1942. Assignment of the 1st Marines to the Guadalcanal landing occurred after Barnett had been commercially loaded to cram the most material into available cargo holds. Barnett was assigned to Transport Division B for the Guadalcanal landing carrying the Headquarters, 1st Marines and 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Barnett arrived in Wellington, New Zealand in early July to reshuffle cargo into combat loading so less important items were under material necessary during the early stages of amphibious assault. Barnett sailed from New Zealand on 22 July for a landing rehearsal on 26 July at Koro IslandKoro Island
Koro is a volcanic island of Fiji that forms part of the Lomaiviti Archipelago. The Koro Sea is named after this volcanic island, which has a chain of basaltic cinder cones extending from north to south along its crest. With a land area of 108.9 square kilometers , it is the sixth largest island...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. The landing force then sailed from Koro on 31 July and commenced the Guadalcanal landing on 7 August. Barnett was damaged by a crashing Mitsubishi G4M
Mitsubishi G4M
The Mitsubishi G4M 一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 Isshiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the reporting name Betty...
bomber during an air raid on 8 August. Barnett sailed for Nouméa
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
on 9 August carrying 860 survivors of ships sunk at the Battle of Savo Island
Battle of Savo Island
The Battle of Savo Island, also known as the First Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the , was a naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval forces...
. After transporting the 2nd battalion, 8th Marines from Tonga to Guadalcanal in late October, Barnett spent the month of November 1942 shuttling troops and supplies between Tulagi and Guadalcanal. Barnett was anchored off Lunga Point offloading when accompanying USS Alchiba (AKA-6)
USS Alchiba (AKA-6)
USS Alchiba was an of the United States Navy, named after Alchiba, a star in the Constellation Corvus. She served as a commissioned ship for 4 years and 7 months.-Operational history:...
was torpedoed by midget submarine Ha-10
Ko-hyoteki class submarine
The class was a class of Japanese midget submarines used during World War II. They had hull numbers but no names. For simplicity, they are most often referred to by the hull number of the mother submarine...
on 28 November 1942. Barnett carried 94 wounded Marines and 381 American survivors from destroyers sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, The Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, as the , took place from 12–15 November 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles...
to Espiritu Santo and then transported 866 Northampton
USS Northampton (CA-26)
USS Northampton was a heavy cruiser in service with the United States Navy. She was the lead ship of her class and commissioned in 1930...
survivors from the Battle of Tassafaronga
Battle of Tassafaronga
The Battle of Tassafaronga, sometimes referred to as the Fourth Battle of Savo Island or, in Japanese sources, as the , was a nighttime naval battle that took place November 30, 1942 between United States Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy warships during the Guadalcanal campaign...
home to San Diego a few days before Christmas.
Sicily
After a month of west coast shipyard overhaul, Barnett was reclassified APA-5 on 1 February 1943 and transferred to the east coast in March. Barnett loaded troops of the 45th Infantry Division for a Chesapeake BayChesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
landing exercise at Cedar Point, Maryland on 12 April. Barnett sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on 10 May 1943 with convoy UGF 8A as flagship of the Third Transport Division commanded by Commodore Campbell Edgar, escorted by USS Savannah (CL-42)
USS Savannah (CL-42)
USS Savannah was a light cruiser of the Brooklyn-class. She was laid down on 31 May 1934 by the New York Shipbuilding Association in Camden, New Jersey; launched on 8 May 1937; sponsored by Miss Jayne Maye Bowden, the niece of Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr., of Georgia; and commissioned in the...
and 12 destroyers, and arrived in Oran, Algeria, on 23 May 1943. On 5 July 1943 Barnett sailed with convoy NCF 1 carrying the 26th Regimental Combat Team to the Sicilian occupation
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. Barnett arrived at Gela, Sicily, at 0025 10 July 1943 and began landing troops at 0245. During a bombing attack off the coast of Sicily on 11 July 1943, a bomb burst close aboard Barnetts port bow abreast of the forward hatch putting a hole in the hull and causing subsequent flooding. The ship was made to list to starboard to bring the hole above the water line. Seven men were killed and 35 injured; all were Army personnel. On the evening of 12 July Barnett steamed under her own power with convoy CNF 1 to Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, for repairs, arriving 15 July.
Salerno
Barnett sailed from Oran with 1,398 troops of the 36th Infantry Division on 5 September 1943 in convoy SNF 1 to the SalernoSalerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
landings on 9 September, and left Salerno on 10 September with convoy NSF 1 to return to Oran on 14 September. Barnett left Oran on 30 September with 1,011 signal, police, and ordnance specialists in convoy NSF 4 and arrived in Naples, Italy, on 6 October. After offloading, Barnett left Naples on 7 October with convoy SNF 4 and returned to Oran on 10 October. On 25 October Barnett again sailed from Oran with 1,247 men from the 1st Armored Division in convoy NSF 6 arriving in Naples on 28 October and leaving the same day with convoy SNF 6 to return to Oran on 1 November 1943. Barnett then transported 1,383 service force troops to Italy on 13 November and embarked Commonwealth troops to leave Oran with convoy MKF 26, escorted by HMS Glasgow (C21)
HMS Glasgow (C21)
The seventh HMS Glasgow , built on the Clyde, was a Southampton-class light cruiser, a sub-class of the Town-class and commissioned in September 1937. She displaced 11,930 tons and had a top speed of 32 knots . She was part of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet; she escorted the...
, and arrive in Liverpool, England, on 9 December 1943. Barnett left England on 18 December 1943 with convoy UC 8 and arrived in New York City on 2 January 1944.
Normandy
After shipyard overhaul, Barnett sailed from New York City with convoy UT 8 on 11 February 1944 to reach Gourock, Scotland, on 23 February 1944. Barnett then made several trips shuttling troops between Gourock and Plymouth, England, and conducting landing exercises in Start Bay in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. On 27 May 1944 Barnett anchored in Tor Bay to load troops of the 2d Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division’s 8th Infantry Regiment. These men were landed on Utah Beach on 6 June before transporting casualties back to Falmouth, England, on 7 June.Southern France
Barnett loaded troops at Gourock in late June and delivered those troops to Naples on 16 July. Barnett then sailed from Naples on 13 August 1944 with convoy SF 1A in the first of three trips furnishing logistic support and transporting American and Free French troops from Naples to Cavalaire, St. Tropez, and Marseille during Operation DragoonOperation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
. Barnett left France on 20 October and arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on 8 November 1944.
Okinawa
After a month of shipyard overhaul at Norfolk, Barnett loaded troops at Newport, Rhode Island, in December, and transported them via the Panama Canal to Long Beach, California, in January. Barnett departed Long Beach on 18 January 1945 and reached Guadalcanal on 9 February. There Barnett embarked elements of the 1st Marine Division and transported them to Ulithi in March as part of Transport Group “Baker” (TG 53.2) for the battle of OkinawaBattle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
. Barnett arrived off Okinawa on 1 April and was damaged by a friendly fire incident on 6 April. Repairs required return to Seattle on 5 May 1944. Barnett transported 1,163 Army personnel from Seattle to Hawaii in June, and 1,308 troops from Hawaii to Leyte in July. Barnett then transported casualties from the Philippines back to California and was in San Diego when Japan surrendered. Barnett received seven battle stars for her World War II service.
Decommission
Barnett was engaged in "Magic Carpet" duty transporting military personnel back to the United States from Pacific Islands until 9 January 1946, then sailed from San Francisco to Boston in January, was decommissioned at Newport, Rhode IslandNewport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
on 30 April 1946, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 21 May 1946.